Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
COMING up with a more "thoughtful" approach to justice issues was the common theme among State Election candidates at Tuesday night's justice forum in Bendigo.
Bendigo East and West and Northern Victoria candidates from the Labor Party, Greens, Sex Party and Palmer United Party took the last formal opportunity to debate before the November 29 election.
Organised by ARC Justice - the combined community legal and housing organisation - candidates focused on addressing family violence, supporting those with drug and alcohol dependency and ways at keeping people out of homelessness.
ARC Justice executive officer Peter Noble said the "unity on big items" was encouraging.
"Each were committed to a comprehensive response to family violence. They want to enable a more thoughtful approach," he said.
"(We want to) see the government re-commit to funding sustainable housing and services to keep people in tenancies.
"These issues have enormous knock-on effects. The biggest cohort of people in homelessness are those who have suffered from family violence."
Thirty-five lawyers, social service organisation representatives and members of the public questioned the candidates on the government's removal of suspended sentences, ways to support those suffering physical and emotional family violence, and on drug policy.
Mr Noble said they had hoped Liberal Party candidates had attended to discuss the legal changes that had taken place in Victoria over the last four years.
Candidates agreed that there had been a shift from judges having control over sentencing, to governments having greater power.
Mr Noble said it would "be a bold move" for a government to reinstate suspended sentences in Victoria, and greater emphasis needed to be placed on addressing the state's prisoner population.
Those in attendance also questioned the safety of Bendigo's law courts.